Notes from the Democrat Convention

John McCain ran a commercial congratulating Obama at the end of the Democrat convention last night. McCain showed his usual style of reaching out to everyone and his commerical was a show of class. Typical McCain. The contrast between candidates is stark. The American people are waking up now and that is good.

Jimmy Carter, the worst President in my lifetime, told USA Today in an interview that John McCain is a "distinguished naval officer" but that he is "milking every possible drop of advantage" from his time served as a prisoner of war in Vietnam."

And, the media was caught openly cheering and applauding Obama last night at the stadium during and after his speech. From The Hill's blog, "Several members of the media were seen cheering and clapping for Barack Obama as the Illinois senator accepted the Democratic nomination Thursday. Standing on the periphery of the football field serving as the Democratic convention floor, dozens of men and women wearing green media floor passes chanted along with the crowd. Two members of the foreign press exchanged opportunities to take each other's picture while wearing an Obama hat and waving a flag."

From NewsBusters, there is this: "Television journalists were nearly uniformly enthralled with Barack Obama's Thursday night acceptance speech, relieved he showed the toughness to take on John McCain directly, unlike in their world view all too-soft past Democratic nominees."

For a bit of humor, check out David Brooks' column in The New York Times. Here's a snippet: "We got to know Barack and Michelle Obama, two tall, thin, rich, beautiful people who don't perspire, but who nonetheless feel compassion for their squatter and smellier fellow citizens. We know that Barack could have gone to a prestigious law firm, like his big donors in the luxury boxes, but he chose to put his ego aside to become a professional politician, president of the United States and redeemer of the human race. We heard about his time as a community organizer, the three most fulfilling months of his life."

Charles Krauthammer makes an interesting point of what wasn't seen from the stage of the Democrat convention. Where were those who could surround him and vouch for his candidacy? For his ability to lead, to work across party lines, to bring people together, as he claims he will. And as he claims he has done in the past. "When John Kerry was introduced at his convention four years ago, an honor guard of a dozen mates from his Vietnam days surrounded him on the podium attesting to his character and readiness to lead. Such personal testimonials are the norm. The roster of fellow soldiers or fellow senators who could from personal experience vouch for John McCain is rather long. At a less partisan date in the calendar, that roster might even include Democrats Russ Feingold and Edward Kennedy, with whom John McCain has worked to fashion important legislation."

And finally, The Wall Street Journal has an op-ed about last night. It ends with this: "The coming campaign ought to be a test of whether the country really wants that kind of change. We have our doubts, and Mr. Obama may have doubts himself -- which probably explains the audacity of his rhetorical, postpartisan disguise. We've been disappointed by shooting stars before."

Onward.